| | Category | EN | P17 | Catching SunBEAMS |
| | Abstract | Solar panels play a large role in lessening the world’s dependence on |
| | non-renewable fossil fuels. In order to obtain the greatest efficiency from |
| | a solar array, the panels in the array must be placed at the correct angle in |
| | relation to the sun’s position above the horizon at noon. This poses the |
| | question: If a stationary array positioned at the correct angle is more |
| | efficient than one that is not at this angle, will not an array designed to |
| | automatically follow the sun be even more efficient? Having considered |
| | this and researched the existing body of knowledge, the following |
| | hypothesis was formulated: A solar panel which automatically follows the |
| | sun will generate more voltage than a stationary panel. A robotic device to |
| | keep the panel properly aimed was designed and constructed using |
| | BEAM technology. It was then subjected to eleven test periods, each |
| | lasting one day. During these periods the voltage produced by the moving |
| | panel was gathered, along with that produced by a stationary control |
| | panel of the same model. The data was gathered using a Lego |
| | Mindstorms NXT microprocessor and was wirelessly transferred to a |
| | laptop computer. The data was analyzed using computer-generated |
| | graphs and it was decided that the sun-tracking solar panel did indeed |
| | produce more voltage than the stationary one. The difference in voltage |
| | produced was found to be 0.1-0.5 percent. |
| | Bibliography | Bagnall, B. (2007) Maximum Lego NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains. |
| | Winnipeg, Manitoba: Variant Press |
| | |
| | Giancoli, D. (1980) Physics. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, |
| | Inc. |
| | |
| | Hrynkiw, D., Tilden, M. (2002) Junkbots, Bugbots, & Bots on Wheels: |
| | Building Simple Robots with BEAM Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill |
| | |
| | Hughes, D., Ramsey, D. (2007) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solar Power |
| | for Your Home Second Edition. New York: Penguin Group |
| | |
| | Mims, F. (2000) Basic Electronics Transistors and Integrated Circuits |
| | Workbook I. RadioShack Corporation |